Outlast 2

 Xbox One
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 160 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 107 out of 160
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 160
  3. Negative: 30 out of 160

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  1. JohnWitten
    May 16, 2017
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [Condensed Version]

    I was a fan of the first Outlast game because it was an indie developed gem that gave players some genuinely frightening thrills and showcased gruesome brutality and a defenseless protagonist thrown into a thoroughly haunting narrative. The sequel lives up to the original’s premise in many of the same ways and boasts incredible graphics as far as technical advancements go, but alas it doesn’t do much else differently. I’m not saying I’m tired of the agenda that the first game pushed however going through virtually the same gruesome experience with the only differences being a slightly less obviously linear setting and better visuals obscured by the prevalent darkness that envelops the Arizona countryside isn’t going to garner much more kudos from me.

    The previous Outlast title pushed the boundaries of what is allowed by the mature rating beyond a doubt, featuring genuine anguish and suffering on screen as well as more gruesome fatalities than Mortal Kombat has in its entire roster. The experience was haunting and memorable and for that reason alone many people have undoubtedly tried Outlast II in the last few weeks. If you’ve already played the first game or if you’re starting with this sequel it makes virtually no difference as the stories bear little connection (save for some obscure references) and you’re essentially playing the same game anyway as all the mechanics are there.

    What Outlast II does get right is horror- visceral gripping horror like the bogeyman stalking you through the night and psychological intravenous horror like the blood rushing through a dreamy corridor. You’ll ultimately meet your maker more than a few dozen times by the end of Outlast II because you were either jumped by the seemingly endless horde of bogeymen waiting in the shadows or gutted like a fish by a witch-like woman or you simply tried to take in the beautiful scenery through the film grain of your night vision camera and didn’t see the horribly scarred monstrosity before it was too late. The story is very much rooted in horror both physical and mental or spiritual and yet for all intents and purpose the environment and the encounters themselves tell a more intriguing story than the convoluted cultist conspiracy that Outlast II is at times.

    That’s not to say I wasn’t thoroughly interested enough or invested enough to forego searching for notes and clues along the way or to read plenty of theories online with regard to the calamitous ending that wasn’t nearly as clear as Outlast’s Wahlrider ripping things apart. And while things are truly interesting because you’ll be questioning your sanity and surroundings as much as you did in Eternal Darkness or The Evil Within, they’re still inevitably confusing and ambiguous as can be which will prove frustrating for many gamers (or anybody who played Alan Wake). What is easy to grasp however is the vicious cycle of murder, rape, incest, greed, gluttony, suicide, and general sinfulness that the story follows and touches upon- whether through cultists in the present or the backstory of your camera-wielding protagonist.

    One of the most intriguing advances in Red Barrels’ gameplay formula this time around is the ability to actually record footage with your camera which is not just a gimmick but doubles as your checkpoint feature and a way to commemorate portions of your deadly adventure. Of course you’re not likely to take part in some Blair Witch activities such as readily videoing a man being vivisected by cultists but then you never know what may be required when the time comes. The microphone on your camera will also tell you when enemies are nearby but considering the fact they almost always are and it’s pretty much never guaranteed whether or not they’ll sense your presence, don’t leave your hidey hole as soon as it says the coast is clear.

    The game has a lot to offer and expands the potential of the previous title and yet it never fully cashes in on any of what it has to offer- ultimately it falls down in the third act in terms of story and repetitive gameplay. What was once fresh and exciting becomes overdone and less tense or terrifying and more annoying and anticlimactic. It is one of the most visceral and intriguing glances into the mind and mental issues in gaming as well as the effects of torture and trauma on human beings yet the overall experience ends up being shallower despite the oozing ambition and potential. Outlast 1 was great because it was developed on a small budget and we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. Outlast II could’ve been great but it delivered too much of the same experience and doesn’t push the envelope enough to make the deep dive into uncharted horror territory. Instead you’re just a timid man with questionable mental issues and a puny camcorder, facing off against the dark.

    Replay Value: Moderate.

    Overall Score: 7.0    … Expand
  2. Joellemm
    Mar 26, 2022
    6
    It's scary, gory and has a consistent narrative theme throughout. The school sections are as great as I remember them being. I don't think they're as well implemented into the plot as they could be, but it offers a fascinating environmental adjustment, just as you feel you're getting too settled. Certainly, some sections are more interesting than others, and a lot of sections are tediousIt's scary, gory and has a consistent narrative theme throughout. The school sections are as great as I remember them being. I don't think they're as well implemented into the plot as they could be, but it offers a fascinating environmental adjustment, just as you feel you're getting too settled. Certainly, some sections are more interesting than others, and a lot of sections are tedious to play though. However, my biggest criticism, and I feel more vindicated after playing for a second time, is how much of the gameplay devolves into trial and error. It really is disappointing. There were bits I remembered, avoided a mistake (death) I'd made previously, but I was still caught out far too often. It's the level design, signposting is necessary to maintain momentum in the faster paced sections, and the game a does a terrible job at designing its levels in a way that allows for such fluidity. Even when the game grinds to a halt, sometimes I was incredibly unclear on what it wanted for me. (There's a section where you drop down from some stairs and you're trapped by bushes, fences, cacti from each side. I thought I'd escape the level accidently, but no, through the shrubbery there was a little hole in the fence that I'm sure caught me out in the first playthrough.)

    I'd recommend the game for its ambitious plot and genuinely scary moments, but it's also a game more disappointing than I remember it being.    … Expand
  3. Djentlemanjoe
    Apr 28, 2017
    5
    Outlast 2 is a game not much different than the first, you run around this odd village in Arizona where you end up being chased by these fanatical rednecks, who seem to be having a civil war with themselves. Plenty of dead babies and gory details to scare away those new to horror, but to those of us who have played horror games, this should only give you a few jumps. From the beginning ofOutlast 2 is a game not much different than the first, you run around this odd village in Arizona where you end up being chased by these fanatical rednecks, who seem to be having a civil war with themselves. Plenty of dead babies and gory details to scare away those new to horror, but to those of us who have played horror games, this should only give you a few jumps. From the beginning of the game I jumped maybe only three times, and only had 1 moment where I was truly scared. This is disappointing as the first game was a terrifying experience, and kept you on your toes while also making you disgusted at the same time. The plot is entertaining and will keep you going throughout this experience, it’s not an incredible story by any means but it’s the fun of discovering the mystery that keeps you invested.

    This game doesn't really add any new mechanics to the outlast formula and that's a shame, there's definitely some times where a combat mechanic would be helpful, and it seems unrealistic that you would watch all these horrors, and let these people stalk you or attack you, and not even so much as to throw a punch their way. Being able to kill enemies or becoming overpowered would ruin what the game was going for. If there was a simple push or light attack, this would fix some frustrations as you can sometimes get caught up on the game world, leading to a cheap death or if you get lost somewhere.

    The gameplay can be broken up into 4 Types.
    We will start with sneaking and investigating, during this phase you'll be sneaking around avoiding detection looking for clues and how to progress to the next area, these area's aren't terribly tense or scary, if you've played outlast 1 you know what to do, turn around, run far away, hide, let the dumb AI give up and try again, there will only be normal enemies during this part so it’s not terribly difficult, and because most of the enemies are redneck’s it’s not terribly scary either.

    The second would be the Chase sequences, which can be fun, but the stakes are so high during these moments it leaves almost no room for error. Normally there is an enemy right behind you only a few feet away, so you need to be on your toes and stay on the run button, however take a wrong turn or don't latch the right door, and you’re dead and have to start it over again. These sequences aren't bad and can keep you thinking, and on the edge of your seat, but you will be frustrated if you keep failing.

    There are the hunt moments, in these sequences you're being hunted by rednecks or a main enemy type, most notably the weird lady with the cross. If she sees you, she travels extremely fast and tries to kill you. Your first encounter with her is within the first 15 minutes of the game, and I think this will give a lot of player’s trouble. It's hard for them to break away from the Outlast 1 formula of be hunted and run to your objective, which is normally some kind of puzzle. I remember I was being stalked by the lady with the cross and you had to move a cart to jump over a fence. I would move the cart about two feet before I heard the music cue telling me she saw me, which resulted with me running to a barrel and hiding for a few minutes. This didn't add tension as much as it annoyed and frustrated me; it felt like a false extension of the game. It wasn't tense or anything because I knew where to go and what to do, if you've played outlast 1 or even got a good handle of this game right off the bat, you'll know what to do and become bored with this sequence, and every other sequence like this that follows.

    Finally there are the school sections where it’s a creepy flashback to the main characters childhood, this was the one time I was scared during this entire game. They start out tame and get progressively creepier. My one gripe with these segments is it’s so dark and confusing at times you’ll use a good amount of your batteries for your camera, which is vital for seeing in the dark in this game. I’m not saying this game needs more linearity, because it’s basically already a set path walking simulator, but a slight push in the right direction wouldn’t hurt.

    I think this game had a lot of potential but the lack of new additions as well as scares is what's going to keep it lame and not as memorable as the first Outlast. I hope they create something new and interesting for a potential sequel. With an AI buff and some creepier monsters this game would have definitely gone up in rating.    … Expand
  4. soldar
    Jun 26, 2020
    6
    Es un juego que abusa de los screamers y de las situaciones dónde tienes que huir de los enemigos. Los enemigos están programados para caminar directamente hacia ti. el juego quiere asustar poniendo objetos clichés de las películas de miedo. La historia es incomprensible. Ésta secuela no supo que es lo que hize grande a la primera parte

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
39
#39 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
73
#73 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jun 18, 2017
    60
    Glimpses of horrors can't save this horrifically frustrating experience. [July 2017, p.88]
  2. XboxAddict
    May 15, 2017
    80
    Outlast 2 successfully places you in the boots of an average Joe. As much as we all would like to think that we’d rise to the occasion and be a hero with great evil-killing potential, I think this game most accurately portrays how we’d actually have to cope with such incredible and horrific situations. In this regard the game succeeds one hundred percent - and its infuriating, but in a strangely captivating and "want to play more" manner! Well done.
    Read full review
  3. SomosXbox
    May 12, 2017
    88
    Outlast 2 takes back the very best from Red Barrels: tension, slaughter and pure survival. It brings us a well-drawn and complex script, starred by Blake Langermann, a character to empathize with. Despite its few playable errors, Outlast 2 and Sullivan Knoth’s sect will manage to sneak into our darkest nightmares.
    Read full review
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